Ditching machine



Feb. 20, 1968 M. J. HYMEL 3,369,311

DITCHING MACHINE Filed March so, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3

Maise J Hyme/ INVENTOR.

Feb. 20, 1968 M. J. HYMEL DITCHING MACHINE Filed March 30, 1965 Moise J. Hyme/ INVENTOR United States Patent 3,369,311 DITCHING MACHINE Moise J. Hymel, P.0. Box H, Gramercy, La. 70052 Filed Mar. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 443,910 11 Claims. (Cl. 3798) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mounting saddle and associated blade for use in conjunction with a tractor-type vehicle, the saddle comprising a pair of spaced parallel arms positionable along opposite sides of the vehicle and a rigid blade-mounting portion interconnecting the forward ends of the arms and positionable across the front of the vehicle. The central section of the blade-mounting portion is offset downwardly out of the plane of the remainder of the saddle and pivotally mounts the leading end of the blade in a manner whereby, through a vertical adjustment of the following end of the blade, the angular orientation of the blade can be varied. The blade is stabilized by the following end portion thereof being retained against a rigid abutment.

The present invention is generally concerned with a ditching machine, and more particularly relates to a ditching machine wherein a V-sha-ped ditch is formed by two passes of the machine with the machine straddling the ditch and the dirt being thrown to either side so as to automatically create levee embankments.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a device, in the form of a grading blade and mount therefor, which can be mounted on and controlled from a conventional endless track tractor in a manner which enables the tractor to span the ditch being formed with the tracks acting so as to pad or pack the soil cut and thrown by the blade.

Another highly significant object of the instant invention resides in the provision of a blade mount particularly formed so as to enable a substantial extension of the depth of the ditch without danger of the mount or mounting unit contacting or scraping the sides or banks of the ditch.

Another highly significant object of the instant invention is to provide a ditching machine wherein the cut soil is automatically removed andbanked continuously along the sides of the ditch. Further, an important object of the instant invention resides in the provision of a combination blade and mounting unit which can be quickly and easily controlled from the tractor cab or seat utilizing either manual or automatic control systems.

In conjunction with the above object, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a machine wherein the leading end of the blade is universally mounted on approximately the longitudinal centerline of the tractor with the trailing end being angled rearwardly therefrom and adjustably supported laterally of one side of the tractor itself beyond the endless track.

In addition, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a mount or mounting unit in the form of a generally U-shaped beam pivotally engaged with the tractor on the opposite sides thereof and projecting forwardly therefrom with the forwardmost portion of the unit being generally offset downwardly. This downwardly offset forward portion of the mount, the leading end portion of the blade being pivotally engaged therewith, enabling a substantiallylower positioning of the leading end of the blade without danger of the remainder of the mounting beam scraping the sides of the ditch.

Further, it is an object of the instant invention to pro- 3,369,311 Patented F eb. 20, 1968 vide a ditching blade and mount which is relatively simple in construction and operation, and capable of being mounted on any conventional tractor with the control thereof being both rapid and exact.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the ditching machine of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the ditching machine;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the ditching machine being utilized in the second or completing pass in the formation of a ditch with parts. broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic plan view illustrating the manner of forming a ditch utilizing the machine of the instant invention;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 55 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the ditching blade and mounting unit therefor;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged partial cross sectional View taken substantially on a plane passing along line 7-7 I in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged partial cross sectional View taken substantially on a plane passing along line 8-8 in FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 9 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 9-9 in FIGURE 6 and illustrating the manner of bracing the rear end portion of the blade.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the complete ditching machine comprising the instant invention. This machine 10 includes, in addition to a conventional self-propelled endless track tractor 12, a grading or ditching blade 14 and a mount or mounting unit 16 which is used to mount the blade 14 on the tractor 12.

The tractor 12 is to be of an conventional make, such as for example the Caterpillar D-7, and includes a forward motor compartment 18, a cab or operators station 20 rearwardly thereof, a rearwardly projecting power take-off 22, and a pair of side endless propelling tracks 24 driven in the conventional manner.

The mounting unit 16 includes a pair of elongated gen erally parallel side beams or arms 26 positionable along the opposite sides of the tractor 12 and outwardly of the tracks thereon. The forward ends of the arms 26 are interconnected by a rigid arcuate beam portion or member 28 which is to encircle the front of the tractor 12 in forwardly spaced relation thereto. The rear end portion 30 of each of the side arms 26 is offset downwardly out of the substantially horizontal plane of both the arms 26 and interconnecting arcuate member 28. The downwardly offset rear end portions of the arms 26 project rearwardly from the points of offset and, through a removable clamping strap 32, are pivotally engaged with a horizontal shaft 33 projecting laterally beyond both sides of the tractor 12, the mounting unit 16 being movable within a vertical plane about the horizontal shaft 33.

The forward portion or member 28 includes, forward of the forward ends of the arms 26, first sections 34 converging forwardly and terminating in second more rapidly converging sections 36 which in turn terminate in a laterally extending short forward section 38. The centrally located forward portion of the member or portion 28, including the section 38 and the forward end portions of the sections 36, are downwardly offset out of the common plane of the major portion of the side arms 26 and interconnecting portion 28, and into approximately the plane of the offset rear portions 30 of the arms 26. Incidentally, the arms 26 and interconnected forward portion 28 are preferably formed of an elongated hollow box beam or girder which might be more appropriately designated as a' saddle. With reference to the drawings, it will be appreciated that the downwardly offset central portion is located on the longitudinal centerline of the tractor forward of the front end thereof.

The forward end of the saddle is supported from the front end of the tractor 12 by a block and tackle arrangement 40 including a lower two pulley block 42 engaged with a swivel mount 44 fixed to the lateral section 38, and a second two pulley block 46 fixed to a swivel mount 48 at the top of the front of the motor housing of the tractor 12. Control of the block and tackle unit 40, and consequently the raising and lowering of the saddle of the mounting unit 16, is effected through the conventional tractor power take-off shaft 22 by extending the tackle or cable 50 from the unit 40 through a series of guide pulleys 52 and an elongated guide tube 54 extending the full length of the tractor 12 along one side thereof. The actual lowering of the forward end of the saddle will be under the force of gravity in conjunction with a control slackening or releasing of the cable 50.

The blade 15, slightly arcuate in cross section, has, fixed to the rear of the forward end portion, a rearwardly projecting pyramidally shaped hollow rigid mounting portion 56 terminating in a flat open rearward apex end 58. The hollow apex end 58 of the blade member 56 is positioned just forwardly of the lateral section 38 of the saddle and is swivelly engaged therewith for movement about a horizontal axis, coextensive with the longitudinal axis of the tractor 12, and a vertical axis by means of an elongated rod or shank 60 having an enlarged head 64 thereon. The shank 60 is rotatably extended through the lateral portion 38, internally reinforced by an elongated bearing sleeve 62 if desired, with the enlarged head 64 forming a shoulder for engagement against the forward face of the lateral section 38 and projecting forwardly therefrom. The head 64 extends into the open apex end of the member 56 within which it is rotatably locked for movement about a vertical axis by a vertical locking pin 66. Such an elongated locking pin 68 is also used to fix the inner end of the shank 60 inward of the section 38 against longitudinal movement forwardly therefrom, the section 38 being confined between the pin 68 and the shoulder formed by the enlarged head 64. Incidentally, it will be noted that the enlarged head 64 is formed by a pair of vertically aligned forwardly projecting ears, the locking pin 66 being received through both ears, thereby tending to stabilize the joint against any undesirable wobble.

The rear of following end portion of the blade 14 is adjustably supported through a controlled linkage unit 70 including a first substantially vertical arm 72 connected, as its lower end, with the upper edge of the blade 14 through a ball and socket joint 74. The arm 72 is in the form of an elongated hollow tube which receives, within its lower end, a projecting stub shaft 76 having the upper portion 78 of a hemispherical socket rigid therewith, the upper portion 78 of the socket mating with a similarly formed lower portion 80 bolted thereto about a solid ball 82 through laterally projecting flanges 84 thereon. The lower portion of the tubular arm 72 is longitudinally slit as at 86 and includes laterally projecting cars 88 through which a bolt 90 can be extended so as to diametrically contract the lower portion of the tubular arm 72 into clamping engagement with the stub shaft 76. The ball 82 is, through a short shank 92, rigidly affixed to the upstanding leg 94 of an angle member. which is in turn fixed, as by welding, to the upper edge of the blade 14 and an elongated reinforcing angle 96 which extends 4 along a major portion thereof from the rear end of the blade 14.

The upper end of the generally vertical arm 72 is universally secured, through a ball 90 and clamped two part socket 100, to the upper end of a crank or throw anm 102 which in turn has its lower end fixedly clamped to the forward end of an elongated control rod 104. The forward end of the control rod 104, just rearward of the arm 102, is rotatably supported within a bearing unit 106 which in turn is mounted on the upper end of a supporting pillar 108 welded to and projecting vertically from the saddle, and more specifically the adjoining first converging section 34. The rear end of the control rod 104 projects into a gear housing 108 wherein an enlarged gear or worm wheel 110 is fixed thereto and meshed with a laterally projecting worm shaft 112 which is in turn controlled through an enlarged hand wheel 114. The gear housing 108 is preferably formed in two mating sections releasably bolted together on the upper end of a support column 116 fixed to and projecting vertically upward from the corresponding side arm 26 and located in general lateral alignment with the operators platform 20 for easy access thereto by the tractor operator. As will be appreciated from the drawings, the supporting column 116 can be provided with additional diagonally extending braces 118. Incidentally, while manual means has been illustrated and described for vertically adjusting the inclination of the ditching blade 14, it should also be appreciated that the instant invention contemplates the effecting of this adjustment through other means, for example a hydraulic system utilizing a movable piston either directly or indirectly linked to the rear end of the blade 14.

Finally, it will be noted that an elongated chain 120 has been provided between a first ring 122 fixed to the extreme rear upper edge on the blade 14 and a similar ring 124 rigid with the gearing support column 116. This chain is specifically provided so as to assist in maintaining the blade adjacent the tractor when the tractor is being backed, the vertical adjustment of the rear end of the blade 14 being accommodated by selectively lengthening or shortening the chain 120 in any suitable manner, such as through an enlarged turn buckle '126. Incidentally, as will be best appreciated from FIGURES 2 and 8, the blade 14 parallels the corresponding converging section 34 and bears against the smooth forward slightly inclined face 128 of the bearing support column 108 so as to stabilize the blade 14 and prevent any movement thereof during the ditching operation. It is preferable that the column face 128 bear against the blade 14 in at least two vertically spaced points, for example the rearward edge of the horizontal leg of the stiffening angle 96 and at a second lower point below midheight on the blade itself, this bearing engagement will of course be maintained throughout the range of vertical adjustment of the rear end portion of the blade.

In operation, the ditching machine 10 of the-instant invention straddles the proposed location for the channel or ditch, the forward portion of the mounting unit saddle is then vertically adjusted, through the block and tackle unit 40, to the desired height, this in turn positioning the forward or leading end of the ditching blade. Incidentally, it will be noted, more particularly from FIGURES 2 and 4, that the leading edge of the ditching blade, through the pyramidal member, is orientated substantially exactly on the longitudinal center line of the tractor with the push being transferred to the blade leading edge through one of the straight fiat sides of the pyramidal member. The rear end portion of the blade is of course in bearing engagement with the front face 128 of the support column 108 and is vertically adjusted therealong to the desired angular height by means of the hand wheel controlled linkage arms. Of primary significance is the fact that the saddle, throughout the range of vertical adjustment of the rear or following end of the blade,

is located completely above the lower edge thereof so as to avoid any scraping or dragging of the saddle on the bank. Further, by offsetting the sides of the saddle upwardly out of the plane of the leading face thereof, the leading end of the blade being secured to the leading face, it will be appreciated that a substantial depth of ditch can be obtained as compared to conventional angularly adjustable grading blades. For example, it has been found that with an 8 foot blade, the depth of the ditch can be extended to 3 /2 to 4 feet without any danger of scraping. After the first pass along the location of the proposed ditch, the ditching machine is turned around and makes the single return pass forming the other half of the ditch, this being illustrated in FIGURE 4. In this manner, a V-shaped ditch is formed with the sides or banks of the ditch sloping smoothly in opposite directions from the low point of the ditch and terminating in upstanding level embankments on either side thereof. Also of significance, as will be appreciated from FIG- URE 3, is the fact that, by straddling the ditch itself as it is being formed, the endless tracks act so as to pad or compact the soil at a point towards the outer side edges of the ditch, thereby stabilizing the soil and acting, in conjunction with the embankments, to prevent any erosive effects. Likewise, it will be recognized that, by straddling the ditch itself, the ditching machine requires no additional room on each side of the ditch to operate, thereby enabling the convenient cutting of ditches between existing crop rows.

Referring again to the mounting saddle wherein a major portion thereof is located in a plane spaced above the forward blade mounting portion and the rearward end sections 30, it will be noted that the end sections are offset from the side arms 26 through downwardly and rearwardly angled portion which present narrow forwardly facing sloped surfaces so as to offer substantially no resistance to the forward movement of the tractor should these surfaces contact the sides of the ditch, the slope surfaces tending to in fact further compact the soil. This lack of resistance also results from the relatively short length of the rear end sections 30. On the contrary, were the remainder of the saddle between the end sections 30 and the blade mounting central section 38 not in effect offset upwardly the substantial drag which would result when any appreciable angle were given to the blade would have a highly detrimental effect both on the operation of the machine and on the ditch being formed.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use in mounting a ditching blade on a selfpropelled tractor type vehicle, a mounting unit, said mounting unit including a pair of elongated spaced generally parallel rigid arms positionable along the opposite sides of the vehicle, a rigid front member fixed to and interconnecting the forward ends of said arms, said member being positionable across the front of the vehicle in forwardly spaced relation thereto, a substantial portion of both the arms and the member being orientated in a common generally horizontal plane, the central portion of said member, only along a minor portion of the length of said member, being offset downwardly out of said common plane and engageable with the leading end of the blade.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the rear end portion of each of the arms is oifset downwardly out of the common plane of the arms and substantially into the plane of the offset central portion of the front member.

3. For use in conjunction with a tractor type vehicle, an elongated blade and a mounting saddle, said saddle comprising a pair of elongated spaced generally parallel arms positionable along the opposite sides of the vehicle, and a rigid blade mounting portion interconnecting the forward ends of the arms and positionable across the front of the vehicle in spaced relation thereto, said blade having a leading end and a following end, the leading end of the blade being positioned forward of the blade mounting portion of the saddle and substantially on an imaginary center line extending between and parallel to the arms, this line to generally correspond with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, means mounting the leading end of the blade on the mounting portion of the saddle for movement about generally horizontal and vertical axes, said blade projecting rearwardly from the leading end thereof at an acute angle both to the imaginary center line and to the ground, means on said saddle forming an abutment against which the rear surface of the blade bears adjacent the following end thereof, means for vertically adjusting the following end of the blade and thereby varying the angle of the blade to the ground, and means operatively engaged between the following end portion of the blade and the saddle for retaining the blade against the abutment.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein those portions of said saddle between the rear end sections of the arms and the central section of the blade mounting portion on which the leading end of the blade is mounted are offset upwardly above the plane of these sections.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein the upwardly offset portions of the saddle are located in a horizontal plane above the horizontal plane of the highest adjusted position of the point on the lower edge of the blade longitudinal-1y aligned with one of the arms.

6. The structure of claim 5 including means engaged with the blade mounting portion of the saddle for vertically varying the height thereof.

7. For use in conjunction with a tractor type vehicle, an elongated blade and a mounting saddle, said saddle comprising a pair of elongated spaced generally parallel arms positionable along the opposite sides of the vehicle, and a rigid blade mounting portion interconnecting the forward ends of the arms and positionable across the front of the vehicle in spaced relation thereto, said blade having a leading end and a following end, the leading end of the blade being positioned forward of the blade mounting portion of the saddle and substantially on an imaginary center line extending between and parallel to the arms, this line to generally correspond with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, means mounting the leading end of the blade on the mounting portion of the saddle for movement about generally horizontal and vertical axes, said blade projecting rearwardly from the leading end thereof at an acute angle both to the imaginary center line and to the ground, means on said saddle forming an abutment against which the rear surface of the blade bears adjacent the following end thereof, and means for vertically adjusting the following end of the blade and thereby varying the angle of the blade to the ground, said means for vertically adjusting the following end of the blade including a generally horizontal elongated control rod rotatably mounted relative to the saddle and generally parallel to to the side arm adjacent the following end of the blade, a first link fixed to the forward end of the rod and projecting laterally therefrom in a generally vertical plane, a second generally vertical link, means connecting the outer end of the first link with the upper end of the second link for movement of the links about a generally horizontal axis relative to each other, means universally connecting the lower end of the second link to the upper edge of the blade, and means for rotatably driving said rod.

8. The structure of claim 3 wherein the means mount ing the leading end of the blade includes a mounting member fixed to the rear surface of the blade adjacent the leading end thereof, said mounting member projecting rearward from the blade with the rear end of the mounting member being located inward of the leading end of the blade, and swivel means engaged between the rear end of the mounting member and the saddle.

9. The structure of claim 7 wherein the entire length of those portions of said saddle between the rear end sections of the arms and the central section of the blade mounting portion on which the leading end of the blade is mounted is offset upwardly above the plane of these sections.

10. For use in conjunction with a tractor type vehicle, a single elongated blade and a mounting saddle, said saddle comprising a pair of elongated spaced generally parallel arms positionable along the opposite sides of the vehicle, and a rigid blade mounting portion interconnecting the forward ends of the arms and positionable across the front of the vehicle in spaced relation thereto, said blade having a leading end and a following end, the leading end of the blade being positioned forward of the blade mounting portion of the saddle and substantially in alignment therewith, means mounting the leading end of the blade on the mounting portion of the saddle for movement about a generally horizontal axis, said blade projecting rearwardly from the leading end thereof at an acute angle to the saddle arms, means on said saddle forming an abutment against which the rear surface of the blade bears adjacent the following end thereof, means for vertically adjusting the following end of the blade and thereby varying the angle of the blade to the ground,

and means operatively engaged between the following end portion of the blade and the saddle for retaining the blade against the abutment.

11. For use in conjunction with a tractor type vehicle, a single elongated blade and a mounting saddle, said saddle comprising a pair of elongated spaced generally parallel arms positionable along the opposite sides of the vehicle, a pair of rigid portions integral with and converging forwardly from the forward ends of said arms, said converging portions having the forward ends thereof rigidly interconnected by a transverse rigid portion positionable forward of the vehicle in spaced relation thereto, the transverse portion, as well as the immediately adjacent forward most sections of the forwardly converging portions, being offset downwardly out of the common plane of the major remaining length of the forwardly converging portions and said arms, said blade having a leading end and a following end, the leading end of the blade being positioned forward of and pivotally secured to the downwardly offset transverse portion, said blade projecting rearwardly from the leading end thereof at an acute angle to the saddle arms into generally parallel relationship with one of said forwardly converging portions, and means for vertically adjusting the following end of the blade and thereby varying the angle of the blade to the ground, the range of vertical adjustment of the following end of the blade extending to a height wherein the lower edge of the following end of the blade approaches the common plane of the major portion of the saddle, the forwardly offset portion to which the leading end of the blade is secured resulting in a substantial angular inclination of the blade within said range.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,669,040 2/1954 Gregerson 3798 2,738,601 3/1956 Skjaerpe 37-98 X ,973,592 3/1961 A bel 37144 3,157,099 1 1/1964 Ulrich 37--144 X 3,213,553 10/1965 Foy 37144 ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

R. L. HOLLISTER, Assistant Examiner. 

